Green Sea Turtle Found in Hampton Bays Hails From Texas

A female green sea turtle that waddled onto Ponquogue Beach on June 15 is from Texas, according to Kimberly Durham of the Riverhead Foundation.

"We have received information from her tag that she was originally tagged while nesting on Padre Island National Seashore in Kleberg Co., Texas," said Durham.

Durham said the turtle was first tagged on June 2006 and has not been spotted since.

The information, Durham said is exciting as it "brings the Gulf disaster closer to home."

Durham said the populations of sea turtles that migrate to the area's coasts during the summer can likely be "the survivors of the largest environmental catastrophe to date."

"It may be years before we fully understand the ramifications of the BP oil spill," said Durham. "We are often asked by the public how this environmental disaster will affect New York's sea turtle populations."

Durham says that anyone who spots a green sea turtle or turtle tracks  should call the foundation's .